title: Polyurethanes as supports for human retinal pigment epithelium cell growth.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The transplant of retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) cells on supports may well be an effective therapeutic approach to improve the visual results of patients with age-related macular degeneration. In this study, two biodegradable polyurethanes were investigated as supports for human RPE cells (ARPE-19).
  
  
  METHODS
  Polyurethane aqueous dispersions based on poly(caprolactone) and/or poly(ethylene glycol) as soft segments, and isophorone diisocyanate and hydrazine as hard segments were prepared. Polyurethane films were produced by casting the dispersions and allowing them to dry at room temperature for one week. The ARPE-19 cells were seeded onto the polyurethane films and they were investigated as supports for in vitro adhesion, proliferation, and uniform distribution of differentiated ARPE-19 cells. Additionally, the in vivo ocular biocompatibility of the polyurethane films was evaluated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The RPE adhered to and proliferated onto the polyurethane supports, thus establishing cell-PUD surface interactions. Upon confluence, the cells formed an organized monolayer, exhibited a polygonal appearance, and displayed actin filaments which ran along the upper cytoplasm. At 15 days of seeding, the occluding expression was confirmed between adjacent cells, representing the barrier functionality of epithelial cells on polymeric surfaces and the establishment of cell-cell interactions. Results from the in vivo study indicated that polyurethanes exhibited a high degree of short-term intraocular biocompatibility.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Biodegradable polyurethane films display the proper mechanical properties for an easy transscleral-driven subretinal implantation and can be considered as biocompatible supports for a functional ARPE-19 monolayer.
authors.affiliation: School of Pharmacy, Federal University of São João Del Rei, Chanadour, Divinópolis, Brazil.
authors.forename: Gisele R
authors.initials: GR
authors.lastname: da Silva
authors.forename: Armando da S C
authors.initials: Ada S
authors.lastname: Junior
authors.forename: Juliana B
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Saliba
authors.forename: Marianne
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Berdugo
authors.forename: Brigitte T
authors.initials: BT
authors.lastname: Goldenberg
authors.forename: Marie C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Naud
authors.forename: Eliane
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Ayres
authors.forename: Rodrigo L
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Oréfice
authors.forename: Francine B
authors.initials: FB
authors.lastname: Cohen
mesh_terms: D008841:Actin Cytoskeleton / Q000502:physiology; D000818:Animals; D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D002448:Cell Adhesion; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D002460:Cell Line; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000502:physiology* / Q000637:transplantation; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006834:Hydrazines / Q000737:chemistry; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D017953:Isocyanates / Q000737:chemistry; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D046529:Microscopy, Electron, Transmission; D008856:Microscopy, Fluorescence; D011091:Polyesters / Q000737:chemistry; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols / Q000737:chemistry; D011140:Polyurethanes / Q000737:chemistry*; D051381:Rats; D011914:Rats, Inbred BN; D055213:Retinal Pigment Epithelium / Q000166:cytology* / Q000637:transplantation; D013997:Time Factors; D023822:Tissue Engineering / Q000379:methods*; D054457:Tissue Scaffolds
chemical_list: D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D006834:Hydrazines; D017953:Isocyanates; D011091:Polyesters; D011140:Polyurethanes; C016240:polycaprolactone; C029424:hydrazine; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols; C015301:isophorone diisocyanate